Quick Step - 2009 Presentation
Patrick Lefevere's team moves into 2009, stronger with 12 new riders for
the white & blue wrecking crew - 27 riders strong sure to be seen at the
front of races from the Spring Classics to the race of the falling leaves in
October.

The 2009 Quick Step team was presented at the Park Kennedy Hotel in Kortrijk,
Belgium. Patrick Lefevere's team has been the strongest overall in the past 5
years and a model of consistency at taking wins at the highest level in both
classics and stage races although better known as the ultimate classics team,
and, "most likely" to be seen at the front of a race leading Tom Boonen to the
finish with the white and blue train dominating the front.

The new squad fields 27 riders from 7 different countries and have been
preparing for a record season in 2009; 13 Belgians, 6 Italians, 2 Frenchmen, 2
Dutchmen, 1 Australian, 1 Danish rider, 1 Spanish rider and 1 Swiss. Tom Boonen
alreaddy opened the season with a stage win and his third gold jersey as victor
of the Tour of Qatar this week.

The goals of the team as usual, will be the Belgian classics, the Tour of
Flanders, Paris Roubaix and "Tornado" Tom leading the team in the tour de France
in the maillot vert iof sprint points leader adding more stage wins to his
already staggering palmares. High on "Super" Tom's list of priorities will
be taking home another cobble from the roads of the Paris-Roubaix along with the
green jersey in 2009; though he admitted winning the Tour of Flanders is would
be very satisfying this year.

"Winning Milan-Sanremo is of course a dream, but it is never easy. Should I
come up with one classic anyway, I rather prefer a third victory in Flanders.
"That race means the most to me, emotionally, especially with all those
thousands of Belgian fans along the course. Flanders is me is the race that
suits me best."

When asked about his other targets he said, "I'll try and win a stage in the
Tour and maybe grab the green jersey as well. I would like to ride a really good
year, with a couple of peak moments. Including the Belgian championships.
Despite the strenuous course in Aywaille, I don't think I don't stand a chance."

Perhaps the most interesting new additions to the team are Sylvain Chavanel
and Marco Velo.

Marco Velo, part of the blue train of Milram and a top sprinter in his own
right adds additional speed for the Quick Stepping white and blue train and
another option for Lefevere to play for stage and race wins.

French rider Sylvain Chavanel has continued to improve his results over the
past years, in 2008 he chalked up 11 victories. He did well in Spring
winning the Brabantse Pijl, Dwars door Vlaanderen, following up with double wins
in tthe French championships in the ITT and Road race; stage wins in Paris-Nice,
Tour de France, Tour Méditerranéen and Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. At 29 years
of age, Chavanel is just coming into maturity as a rider.

Sylvain is an exciting rider often animating the race in breaks, he may
prove to be the Quick Steps best bet to back for a victory in the general
classification win this year. Either way the French rider will carry the hopes
of his countrymen for an even more impressive showing in 2009 and a guy to keep
your eye on this year.

The team also contracted four new Belgians: Kevin De Weert comes over from
Cofidis; Dominique Cornu and Dries Devenyns have signed from Silence-Lotto and
Kurt Hovelijnck moves up from the continental squad, Topsport Vlaanderen.

A Helping hand from Quick Step
Team Quick Step is also very active in the community. During the winter period
the team organised a photo shoot with the well-known Fashion photographer Henk
Van Cauwenbergh at Antwerp.

Van Cauwenbergh photographed in black and white the team’s athletes in
fascinating poses with the objective of capturing on film the spirit and force
of each individual highlighting their personalities. Particular attention was
paid to the athletes eyes. The 27 portraits of the Quick Step athletes were then
transferred onto large canvases and framed becoming pictures in order to be
visible to as many people as possible.

After being exhibited at the Velo Follies at Kortrijk the 27 pictures will be
accompanying the team during the principal races of the professional cycling
calendar on a sort of ‘Road Show’. “We want to create a kind of “travelling
gallery” in order that as many people as possible have the opportunity of seeing
the portraits and therefore our athletes in a completely different light – team
manager Patrick Lefevere explained - A further 28th canvas will be on display
explaining the project and instructions for taking part in the auction in the
hotels that we will be staying in during the season. After having accompanied
the team in the main European races, the works of art will be auctioned off with
proceeds going to charity after the Giro di Lombardia”

The money raised at the auction will be donated to the parents of the little
girl Zita Deweghe. Thanks to all of those that take part in the auction Zita,
who was born a year ago with hearing problems, will be able to undergo an
operation that will , for the first time ever, enable her to hear her parents
voices. Each work of art will be autographed personally by the athlete concerned
and will be presented to the auction winners in a special event to be organised
at the end of the cycling season.
Details and instructions for participating in the auction will be detailed on
the team's site in the weeks before the auction. You can view a slide show
presentation of the dramatic
photos here.